What You Try Not to Say

The Elf on the Shelf, Episode 3: The Recording.

The dreams started like memories, not nightmares. Worse, because nightmares end

when you wake up. These followed me into daylight. I dreamed an

argument my husband and I had, one we never had out loud. In the dream,

we said every cruel thought we swallowed to keep the house calm, and when I

woke up, I, um... My throat hurt, like I'd actually

screamed. Downstairs, the elf had moved again. It sat on

the arm of the couch, leaning forward, like it had been listening